how do you get the infuser out of the teapot without burning your fingers?
I am new to tea – and I have a teapot with a fine mesh infuser that works great – but is there a trick to getting the infuser out of the teapot without burning your fingers? (I do also have a chatsford and love the tab on their infusers but not all teapots are like that!)
TIA
Susan
None that I know of, that is the reason I do not use my beehouse teapot very much. I do love my Chatsford if for no other reason than that tab on the infuser basket:)
I always have this problem too – I usually do this complicated thing where I lift one side with a spoon and then grab the other side with a tiny piece of folded up paper towel like a mini ovenmit – it is silly, but it works – haha.
well thanks for the replies – i thought i might be missing something obvious – but apparently not!
My secret would be not to use the infuser basket. When I brew in a teapot, I let the tea leaves brew loose and then strain it through a strainer.
That’s a great idea, but that sounds like it would make resteeping more difficult cuz you’d need to fish each leaf out of the strainer.
It is the best way to infuse the tea, however. It allows for maximum space for the tea leaves to unfurl and release their flavor.
Definitely agree w/ you there- I’m just not coordinated enough and don’t want to make resteeping putsy- one reason I LOVE my ingenuiTEA.
@Cofftea, I actually find that method easier than most – I have a little strainer that’s just big enough to pour through. I pour gently so that most of the leaves stay in the pot, then for the few in the strainer I up upend the strainer over the pot and knock them back in. I don’t usually lose more than a leaf or two. Of course, this was all before my teapot broke, so now I’m back to the ingenuitea anyway :P
I was going to say the same thing as LiberTEAS. She beat me to it. :P
Don’t use an infuser basket. They really aren’t as “convenient” as you think they are.
So, that means you can’t leave the tea in the teapot for extra cups, because it will oversteep? You just brew what you’re going to drink right then?
@SusanLouise: here is what I do – I have 2 teapots. One is for steeping and one is for serving. I warm both, put the leaves in my steeping pot, and then strain the tea into the serving pot, then wrap the serving pot in a tea cozy.
Usually, though, I use my smart brewing device, because that size is perfect for me. I use my teapots when I am having tea with family or friends. :)
Again, I was going to say the exact same thing as LiberTEAS… man, you are quick! :P
Use the 2 teapot strategy when you are using teapots that hold multiple cups. I personally don’t have this issue because all of my teaware is made for only one cup – no tea is left in the pot so no oversteeping. Although, this is one problem I wish I had because that would mean I get to drink tea in the company of guests.
One of these days…
How about using a pot holder… or would that be too clumsy? Maybe just a thin dish towel? How about using a plastic one or a metal one w/ the tabs you were talking about?
a flat metal nail file pries up the one side and tweezers grab the lip and set it on a saucer
I’ve been told I have an unnatural heat tolerance. The infuser doesn’t bother me at all… however, the lid to my cast iron teapot is another story.
I do a thin steak knife or butter knife to lift up one side then I find if I grab the mesh of the strainer, not the lip, with pinched fingers, I don’t find it too hot to pick up. Or I’ve done the knife then grabbed it with tongs.
here is a trick i use.
get an ice cube from the freezer and put your fingertips on it till cold. then take it from your cup. you will not burn your fingers.
I just use my pinky nail and lift. If it is broken. I work fast and let it burn. LOL :-)
Login or sign up to leave a comment.